UMMS Affiliation

Department of Cell and Developmental Biology; Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems

Date

2-13-2013

Document Type

Book Chapter

Subjects

Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Bone Marrow Transplantation

Abstract

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have the ability to self-renew and replenish the blood and immune system for the life span of an individual. An age-associated decline in HSC function is responsible for the decreased immune function and increased incidence of myeloid diseases and anemia in the elderly. The changes in HSC function are thought to occur as the result of an intrinsic defect in the self-renewal potential of HSCs as they age. In this chapter, we describe a bone marrow serial transplantation protocol designed to test the self-renewal capacity of HSCs in vivo.